Harvesting apparatus



Jan. 19, 1965 J. w. CRANE 3,166,026

HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 t INVENTOR.

JA CK W. CRANE Jan. 19, 1965 J. W. CRANE HARVESTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1962 m c W. K c

Jan! 19, 1965 J. w. CRANE 3,166,026

HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JACK "f CRANE Y MWW Jan. 19, 1965 w. CRANE 3,166,026

HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 I45 I 1/77 /2/ //.9 [1//////// I 1 I v /26 I26" 5 I v 1 INVENTOR.

JA C K I4. CRANE AGENT 3,156,926 HAR VESTKNG APPARATU Sack W. Crane, New Holland, Pa, assignor to Sperry Rand orporation, New Holland, la, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 22, 1962, Ser. No. 1%,786

14 (Claims. (ill. 1%7-14) My invention relates to ring die pelleting machines adapted especially for field use. Hay is picked up from the field surface by any known pick-up apparatus and continually fed to the machine. In such machines, relative rotation between the die ring and the associated rolling means forces the material through the die cells of the ring die to form the pellets. Such machines commonly embody relatively revolvable annular ring die structures and coacting rolling means. Sometimes the ring die revolves about the rolling means; sometimes the rolling means revolves around the ring die; and sometimes both revolve simultaneously. Occasionally ,the rolling means is comprised of a second ring die means co'acting with the first. or in part to any one of the several forms taken by this type of pelleting machine.

In achieving my invention I have had several aims. These aims are: improvement in the over-all eihciency of ring die pelleting machines, better control of pellet density, an increase in the compactness of the machine,

ease of assembly, easy repair and replacement of parts,

flexibility of adaptation for various capacities, lowered weights and lowered manufacturing costs.

I achieve the aims of lowering the weights and costs not only by efiiciency using metal, but also by consolidating and simplifying the die rings and die cell cross section controls; by sectionalizing the ring of dies; by rendering the die sections self-supporting against bursting strains, thus doing away with the need for heavy securing bolts and attendant drillings; and by absorbing the radial force components directly in the rings rather than by way of bolts. Easy assembly, repair and replacement and flexibility of design for various capacity, are also derived from these means.

Increased compactness results jointly from the foregoing and from the vertical arrangement of the rotational axis of the machine.

Better pellet density control is obtained by diverging the axes of adjacent superimposed die cells, rendering the intermediate cell walls relatively adjustable, and arranging a common adjusting means between .these jutaposed intermediate walls.

I obtain increased elliciency by a better infeed distribu tion achieved jointly through the vertical arrangement of the infeed, improved infeed confining and directing sur faces, and an improved infeed auger system.

A special construction of the die mouth improves charge retention by the die cells, while a special roll peripheral configuration coacts with the special die mouth construction and-the divergent arrangement of the die cells to improve the efliciency of compaction of the material in the die cells and its movement therethrough.

The detailed constructions of these features are shown in the accompanying drawings which represent the best embodiment of my invention now known to me and several of the possible modifications which I have envisioned.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the machine of this invention; R

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the device of FIG.'1 taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line United States Patent lcc My invention may be applied. in whole Y ?a terrted an. .19,

3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

applied to the line, and showing several .die cell units; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows applied to the line, and showing asingle die cell unit; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows applied to the line, and showing how two die cell. units cooperate to define the actual die cells;

alone;

FJIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pellet such as formed by the machine; v

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view. of a modified form of actuating means for the adjustable die cell walls;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are, respectively, diagrams in plan and sectional elevation of. a modified form of die cell wall adjusting means, employing extensible and retractable screw means applied to the pairs of juxtaposed intermediate cell walls; and Y FIGS. 11 and 12 show semi-diagrammatically, respec tively, in elevation and plan, a modified form of the auger infeed. I

Dealing now with the overall organization of the machine, it will be seen that the ring die in general is comprised of lower and upper frame side plates, or rings, 20' and 21. Intervenedbetween frame side plates 2i and 21 are a pluralityof die cell units 25 arranged in an annular series, or nest, as best seen in FIG. 2. An individual cell unit may be seen in FIG. 6. In assembled form, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; the cell units 25 cooperate to define two superimposed annular series, or nests, of die cells, an upper annular series 23 and a lower annular series 22. The die cell units 25 are separable from the frame. side plates 20 and 21 and from each other as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3-6. The axes of the cells in the upper series of cells 23 and the axes of the cells in the lower series of cells 22 diverge relative to each other as they progress radially outwardly from the central axis of the machine. j. This clearly appears in 34-.- Frame 34 is mounted upon the upper end of a main drive shaft 35 which is centered upon the axis of the die ring. The drive connection consists of a circum-' ferential series of hub splines 36. The main drive shaft 35 is journaled in roller'bearings 37 and 38 supported,- respectively, by the integrally formedweb 39 and by the removable cap 40 which closes the lower end of gear casing 41. Gear casing, or housing, 41 is formed as an integral extension of the lower die frame side plate 20. Lower bearing 38 is a combined radial and axial thrust bearing. Bevel gears 42 are contained within casing 41 and are spline connected, respectively, to the main drive shaft 35 and to a laterally projected power shaft 43 extended through bearing housing 44 which is bolted onto' casing 41. Bearing housing 44 carries roller bearings outer end a relatively widemultiple V-belt pulley 45;

Power for operating the machine issupplied through this for the power shaft 43. Power shaft 43 carries at its train 45 to 35. Gear housingl carries an oil bath t6 j new FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the'die cell units Coacting commonly with the two.-

, are'lubricated. Appropriate oil sealing devices. 47 and 43. are provided where shafts 35 and 43 emerg'e,r'espectively, from thegear housing 41 and:from the bearing:

' housing 44. An oil slinger49 distributes oil throughout -.housing4l.f V e V Whilethe lower die framefside plate 2t ,with its integral radial and axial gearghousing extensions,completely closes otfthe access from below to the two annular series of die cells 22 and 23, the upperdie ring frame side plate 21 has an open inner-periphery substantially of the same. diameter as the inner-periphery of the assembled ring ofdieflc'ell I units 25. Through this open periphery, which is designated 50, the material to'be pelleted is fed to the'machine. The feedingis through a vertically. extending cylindrical sheet metal housing 51 which is seated ina metal thickness I recess Within a vertically extending inner peripheral flange- 52 formed on the upper die ring frameside plate 21. Uniformity of'downward feeding and distribution about the mouths of the annular series of diecells 22 and 23 is achieved through the provision of a double flight auger, the respective flights of which are numbered 53 and These are mounted upon and coact withupwardly pointing,jflight mounting and material distributing cone structure 55. This cone is mounted upon an upward extension 56 from' the main driveshaft A stilfening web 55" welded. to the interior of cone 55 is centrally aperturedtto fit closely over the body. of shaft '56, .while the point of the cone is also centrally apertured and flattened at 56'. to be axially bolted, as shown, to the upper end of theextension' 56.1 Extension 55 is shouldered at'56" and its reduced lower end has a threaded connection withshaft 35.

lntervened'between the upper end of hub 57 of bipartite Q frame 34 and shoulder 56" isa largediametered thick washer'57' which bears down upon the upper end of hub 57 and holds the same firmly in splined driving connection with shaft '35,. Hub 57 is axially centrally'divided as at 57" thus enabling .the upper half. of frame 34 to be re-' moved from the lower half and independently freed from shaft 35 after shaft extension 56 is unthreaded and the auger is removed, When this is done, it leaves free the upper ends of pins 33, and rolls 30 and 31 can then be re-' moved and replaced. V The base'of cone is of adiameter considerably. less than the diameter; of the inner periphery 50 of the as-v sembled ring'of die 'cellunits 25, thus providingannular;

space between them. Material progressed downwardly over the-surface of the cone by auger'fiights 53 and 54 is annularly distributed to and about the ring of die 'cell units through the annular space. The lower margins ofthe cone are cut out as at 58 to fit. down over the sides of the upper half of frame 34 as clearly appears in FIGS, 1 andt2. This provides the maindriving connection for the conically based auger;

The machine thus organized to operate in a vertical at 1 titude is adapted for mounting upon ,a wheel chassis, to-

gether with a driving motor, for field uset In FIG 1,, isshown certain channel members designated the left 97 and the right 98, bolted to the sides of the gear casing 41 and thereby affording amply based rigid support from the field chassis'of which members 7and 98 are a part The right hand channel member 98 engages a pad formed integrally with the right hand side of the gear housing: 41.;

The left hand member engages under the heads of the same bolts which securethebearing housing 44 to the left side of the gear1housing 41. I A suitable aperture in the bottom of the channel serves to pass the bearing housing therethrough.

' It is outstandingly intheconstruction and arrangement, of die. cell units 25 that the other'aims of this invention are achieved; though, as will be seen, other; elements of the.

machine -make their contribution in some degree f The .erms axiallyand radially as employed herein are with;}-*

reference 'to the centralaxisof the machine as a whole,

which is the axis of main drive shaft 35 .fReferring es- V aecially to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-6, it will beseen at once: i

' anodes-3e extending radial planes. 60.

thatth e twosuperimposed annular series of diecells 22 and 23 are defined by 'a'plurality of identical axially integral die cell units 25; The cell units are annularly arranged about the axis of drive shaft 35 and theyabut each other "in axially extending radial planes 'throughithe lmain drive shaft axis. 7

' planes, as definedfby the dividing lines between abutting These axially extending radial integrally formed identical die cell units 25, are designated 64 throughout the drawings. Each such integralunit 25 comprises the radially extending, axially common side wall portion 61 of two superimposed die cells 62 and 63 (see FIG. 5) belonging, respectively, to the superimposed annular series of'cells 23 and '22. Integrally formed with and projecting fromeach side of the wall 61 at both the top and bottom ends thereof is' one half of a die cell end wall 64. 'Integrally formed with and projecting from each side of the wall 61, axially intermediate the half end wall portions 64, is one half of a transaxial intermediate wall portion 65 of the cells-.62 and 63.- As FIGS. 3-6 make clear, the integrallyformed intermediate wall halves 65 extend radially outwardly from the mouths of the die cells only aportion of the length'of the side walls 61.

. Each of the oppositely extending transaxial end'wall halves Gdand intermediate wall halves 65 terminate in the axially. The planes 60' constituteaxially extending planes of symmetry of theindividual die cells. Thus; as formed, none of the individual die cell units 25 in and of itself completes a die cell, butasannulary assembled togetherv inabutting relationship in the;

radial planes 6t), they cooperate toform two axially juxtaposed annular. series of die cells 22 and 23 independently of the die frame side rings 20 and 2l. FIG. 5 of the draw- =ing's shows how two abutting cell units 25 cooperate to define a complete cell 62of upper annular series 23 of cells, and a complete cellj63 of lower annular series 22 1 of cells independently of the die frame sideplates, or

rings, 21' and 21.

The cross sections of the cell-units 25 are made of suchthickness and of such material as to be able to resist the high bursting pressures of the pelleting operation independently of any axial clamping force from side plates 26 and 21. This particularly applies to the cantileverly cxtendinghalves of the end walls 64 of the units whosecross section is made-particularly heavy. This enables a connection of the die cell units 25 to the die frame side plates 26 and 21 by means of axially extending-interengaging integral projections and sockets 7t and 71 between the die cell'units and the frame side plates, instead of by the. use ;of heavy through running bolts ashas been formerly practiced. There arenecessary, but relatively small, bolts 72 threaded into the ends'of'individual-projections and bearing on side plates 29 and.2l throughwashers; l thus, separatelyand independently securing the side plates 29 and 21 to the annular assemblage of diecell units. Thismeans of securing utilizes the integral main bodies of the diecell units as atensioning means for tightening thecom I ponents of the die ring together. i The foregoing features 7 of construction conduce" especially to simplicity ease of v replacement, ease of assembly, iease of repair and re placement, low weight and low cost of manufacture.

In the control ofthe' density ofthe pellets throughchange in cross section of'the die cells as the pellets are progressed through them there arelikewise utilized the .ends. T he inner surfaces of these adjust-able walls extend in radial continuation'from the inner surfaces of thein- I The cell mouths 75,; the vicinity of the inner-periphery 59 of the die ring,

aieepae plates with a force sufiicient to-break theextrusionawaf walls 77 and the side walls 61 of the units, as most clearly appears in FIGS. 1, and 6. The diameters of the pro jectio ns and sockets are so proportioned that they lie side by side within the projected thickness of the intermediate wall portions 65 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) and thus do not obstruct or change the uniformity of the cell cross sectional area in this region. The cell cross section is rectangular or square and all of its four corners are rounded as clearly appears in FIGS. 4 and 5 and as indicated by the numeral 79. The rounded corner portions 79 between the end walls 64 and the side walls 61 are formed integrally in the cell units 25. The rounded corner portions associated with the intermediate wall portions 65 and the side walls 61, are also formed integrally with the cell unit; but the rounded corner portions which lie within the length of the adjustable intermediate wall portions 77 are formed integrally with the adjustable wall portions 77 (see FIG. 5). Thus the formed pellet (see FIG. 7) has four rounded corners of approximately the same radius irrespective of changes in the thickness of cross section brought aboutby relative adjustment of the-intermediate V walls 77.

The axial divergence of the two annular die cell series 22 and 23 not only provides an intervening space within which the adjustable wall portions 77 may be moved axially toward and from'each other to adjust the die cell cross sections, but also provides space for the interposition, between adjustable'wall portions77, of the common operating means 24. Such means shown in the principal figures of the drawings and detailed in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises the relatively thick-walled rigid tube 85 seated on one side in its annular extent upon the curvilinear terminal extension 36 of each of the adjustable walls 77 of the series 22. Bearing against an identical curvilinear terminal extension 87 of the adjustable walls 77 of the upper series 23 are a plurality of identical pistons 88 extending parallel to the central axis of the machine as a whole and fitted and sealed into apertures 89 communicating with the hollow interior of the tube 85. When fluid pressure is applied to the hollow of the tube 85, the pistons are forced outwardly to react against the terminal extension 87 of the upper intermediate walls 77, and the tube 85 as a whole is reactively pressed downwardly to exert the same pressure upon the terminal extensions 86 on the lower intermediate adjustable walls'77. In forming pellets of high density the hydraulic pressures required are quite high and the stresses which the walls 77 and the adjusting mechanism are subjected are correspondingly high. Not only does the thick walled annular tube 85 carry these pressures, but also the pistons are of proper proportions to develop the actuating pressures needed at each individual cell. The walls 77 themselves are atforded boththe cross section and the re-enforcement needed to take care of such pressures. Beside thickness from the end of the die cell, so forming the pellets.

' Efiiciency of pellet compaction and extrusion is im- .proved through the axial divergent relationship of the two annular series 22 and 23 of die cells and the complemental surface'configuration of the" coacting rolls 3% and 31.

1 The axially spaced lips 95 ofjtheend walls 64 at the die mouths 75 are extended radially inwardly beyond the lips of the remaining walls of the die cell units and at the same, or substantially the same, divergent angle as the two end walls 64 of a single cell unit 25. This can be clearly seen from an inspection of FIGS. 3 and 6 in conjunction with FIG. 1. So extended, these lips 95 form a pocketed -space the margins of which converge radially inwardly to the inner periphery '50 of the die ring side plate 21. to touch the lips of the remaining walls of the die units. The roll surfaces are obtusely angled'in radial cross section and this angle is such that as the roll peripheries pass of cross section, increased strength is had by reason of the gageable by annular extensions 2 on the adjustable wall terminal extensions 86 and 87. See FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. Limit to the length of pellets is provided by plates 93 secured to the outer surfaces of terminal extensions 86 and 8'7 of intermediate adjustable walls 77 and projecting angularly into the paths ofthe exiting extruded material. When the extrusions reach the plates they engage the over the mouths of the cells between the lips 95, those portions of the roll surfaces juxtaposed, respectively, to the upper and lower annular series of cells 23 and 22 lie at substantially right angles to the divergent lengths of thedie cells as shown in FIG. 1. The compacting and extruding forces exerted by the rolls are therefore directed precisely parallel to the line of divergence of the die cells.

The masses of material compacted into the mouths of the .dies are held strongly within the die mouths by reason of engaging radially inwardly converging lips 95.

:The general operation of those ring die pelleting machines is so well understood in the art that it need'no' description here. When the machine is being operated at the proper speed it is only necessary to continuously feed material into the feed housing 51. Itbeing assumed that g the material to be fed is ready for pelleting, the machine will continuously receive, compress, compact and extrude the material through the die cell units. To regulate density one has only to regulate the pressure of the fluid within the hollow of the annular tube 85. The fluid is introduced to the hollowtube 35 through a connecting conduit 1% opening into an area between pistons 38, by way of a suitable control valve (not shown). The'plates 93, extending angularly from the outerends 86 and 87 of adjustablewalls 77, are engaged by the outer ends of the extruded material, as its radial extension increases, with the result that extruded masses are broken into pellets as they reach the desired lengths. V

' Obviously the features of my invention may be mod ified in part or in whole without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the means 24 for actuat ing the adjustable walls 77, by which the density of pel-j lets is regulated, can be constructed as shown in FIG. 8

by using a flexible walled tube whose opposite. sides seat between curved terminal extensions 86 and 87 of the adjustable walls 77. Such flexible tube, as distinguished from the rigid thick wall tube shown in FIGS. 1', 3 and 4,

expands and contracts its cross section under varied fluid pressures within it and directly actuates the adjustable walls 77. Control of the tube pressure is had in the same" manner as with the rigid walled tube. Obviously the tubes flexibility and strength of wall are to be'chosen to meet theconditionsjit has to meet. g f

Again, in'FlGS; 9 and 10, yet another modification of the actuating means is located in the space between-theadjustable intermediate walls 77. In this case, screw threaded means 107 whose members respectively engage with the upper and lower adjustable walls 77 can be ex tended and retracted merely by rotating the one element,-

the nut 108, with respect to the other element, the stud 109. The stud is welded at one end to the upper adjusta-' ble wall extension 87 and passes through'an aperture 110 The rolls 3t and 31 enter these'spaces almost with right and left threads and a single actuating chain 111 extending alternately over one sprocket and :under the serves to simultaneously and uniformly adjust'them all.

A modification of auger feeding means, for assuring substantially uniform distribution of material .to be pel'- leted,is pictured in FIGS ll and-12. Here instead of r having double auger flights 53, 54 we have twine augers 115 and 116, each rotated about itsown axis and in turn revolved about the die ring infeed housing 51- The mechanism through which this is achieved consistspas in the first form, of an upward axial extension 117 and the main drive shaft 35. This upwardextension is of considerably greater diameter thanextension 56 because the driving torque for augers 11S, and 116is to be derived through extension 117. instead of through a mounting cone such as 55. The upper end of this shaft extension 117 end carriesin bearings 119 the reduced upper ends of shafts 115; and 116' offaugers 115' and 116. Borneby the shafts betvween the bearings 119 are drivingsprockets 126. Driving connection for revolving of the beam 118 is-a splined hub connection 120 with shaft 117. 'Rigidly secured to thetop of the housing 51 is a transverse beam 121 carrying, centrally, :an elongated fixed journal 123 wherein said common axis extends vertically whereby one next continuously about the ring as indicated in FIG. 9

while the other of said pair of side plates constitutes a lower side plate, said upper side plate having an open; inner periphery, a driving gear housing extending axially from said lowerside plate, 'a vertically extending drive for the reduced upper end 117" of the drive shaft 117.

This journal-123' passes downwardly through the 'top ofbox beam 113, and the beam hasa journal 128 about it. Fixed to the lower; end of the bearing 123 is a sprocket 124 in the same plane as sprockets 1 26. A chain 125px tends around both sprockets 126 and engages sprocket 124. by an outside reach and so develops driving torque for augers 115,- and 116 as the beam 118 and, the angers are revolved by shaft 117;

The material to be pelleted maybe introduced to housing 51 in any desired manner, through thetop, or through the side as indicated at 127. The closed ,box section 118 houses both sprockets and chains against fouling by the material being introduced and acted upon. f

While thisinven tion has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it'will be understood that it iscapable-of modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,'uses, or adaptations following, in general, the principles of the invention and including suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains, andas fall within the scope of the invention or thelirnits of-the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what'I claim is: b

1., A. ring die'pelletingmachine comprising a ring die structure and coacting rolling. means relatively revolvable about a common axis, said ring die structure comprising apainof'spaced apart ring frame side plates, an annular eachend'of said side wall portion, said intermediate wall portions extending cantilever fashion from opposite sides of said side wall portion midway between said end wall portions, each of said cell units individually: forming less than a complete die cell but coacting with eachother when abutted together in said annular series of units to defineindependently of said side plates a pair of annular series of radially extending die" cells, each of which cells has one side defined by the side wall portion of one of said. cell units,-: the other side definedby the side wall portion of an;adjacent cell unit, one end defined by the abutting. end wall-portions of said one cell unit and said adjacent cell unit, and theother enddefined by the abutting intermediate wall portions of said one cell unit and said adjacent cell unit; 1 1

2 A ringdie ,pelleting machine as recited in claim I of said pair offside plates constitutes anupper side plate shaft journalled in said gear housingand extending coaxially with said common axis, a cone pointed vertically upwardly, means centering and mounting said tcone on said drive shaft with the base of said cone located within said open inner periphery of said upper side plate, and auger flights carried on the surfaceof said cone, 7 v

3. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said end wallportions of each of said cell units comprises a half end wall.

4. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim 11 wherein each cell of said pair of annular series of radially said-cell units having minimum thickness at said cell mouths and being progressively thicker radially outwardly from said cell mouths whereby themouths .of adjacent die cells adjoin'each other and said adjacent cells diverge radially outwardly from their adjoining mouths ..toward their discharge outlets, saiddischarge outlets ofadjacent cells being spaced apart from each other.

a 5. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim4 V wherein said end wall portions of said cell units project radially inwardly beyond said side wall portions and con-f verge radially inwardly beyond said. side wall portions,

and said rolling means. comprises rolls which enter be-. tween said radially inwardly projecting end wall portions.

e 6. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said rolls have generally convex contoured pethe respective cells are normal to the cells.

7. A ring die pelleting machine comprising a ring die 1 structure and coacting rolling means relatively revolvable about a common axis, said ring die structure comprising a pair of spaced apart ring frame sideplates, an annular v series of separable abutting die cell units intervened between said side plates, each of said cell units individually portion, :said side wall portion andsaid intermediate wall portions of each of said cell units having minimum thick ness at'the radiallyinnermost parts thereof and being; I progressively thicker radially outwardly whereby thedie 1 cells defined by said abutting cell units diverge radially; outwardly from each other, each of said cells having one forming less than a complete die cell but coacting with each other when abutted together in said annular series of units to define independently of said side plates apair" of annularseries'of radially extending die cellsQeachbf said cell units embodying a die cell fixed side wall portion extending radially relative to said common axis, a plurality of fixed die cell end Wall portions formed integrally with said side Wall portion and a pair of fixedintermediate cell 'wall portions formed integrally with said side wall" portion,-said end wall portions extending cantilever fashion, from opposite sides of said sidewall portion at each end of said side wall portion and being at least as long in radial dimension as said side wall portion, said fixed intermediate wall portions being substantially shorter in rat'- wall portions, said fixed intermediate wall portions being disposed at the radially innermost part of said side wall side. defined by theiside-wall portioniof oneof said cell each pair of abutting cell units, means connecting one end of each of said movable wall portions to said fixed side' wall portions of each pair of abuttng cell units at the radially outermost part of each pair of abutting fixed intermediate wall portions, each said pair of movable wall portions diverging radially outwardly from said connecting means and having spaced apart radially outermost ends, and means disposed between said movable wall portions at the radially outermost parts thereof for moving said movable wall portions respectively toward and away from said fixed end wall portions of said abutting cell units to vary the cross sectional size of the die cells.

8. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in, claim 7 wherein said means connecting one end'of each of said movable wall portions to said fixed side wall portions comprises pins formed integrally with said movable wall portions and sockets mating with said pins formed in said fixed side wall portions of said die cell units.- 7

9. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said movable wall portions have laterally projecting extensions formed thereon at their radially outer ends and said fixed side wall portions of said cell units have shoulders formed thereon at their radially outer ends and positioned to engage said movable wall extensions and limit the minimum cross sectional size of the die cells.

10. A ring die pelleting machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said movable wall portions have extension members extending radially therebeyond and angularly toward said fixed end wall portions of said cell units thereby projecting into the pathways of columns of material ex truded through said cells to engage and break said columns of material into pellets.

11. A ring die pelleting machine comprising a ring die 7 structure and coacting rolling means relatively revolvable about a common axis, said ring die structure comprising I a pair of spaced apart ring frame side plates, an annular series of separable die cell units intervened between said side plates and abutting each other in planes radial to said common axis, each of said cell units individually forming less than a complete die cell but coacting with each other when abutted together in said annular series of units to define independently of said side plates two superimposed annular series of radially extending die cells with the respective cells of each series diverging radially outwardly from each other and with the two series of cells diverging axially relative to each other, said cell unit's having integrally formed radially extending fixed die cell end wall and side wall portions and radially extending axially adjustable movable wall portions, said movable wall portions being disposed between .said two annular series of die cells and being axially spaced apart at their radially outermost ends, and adjusting means arranged in a transaxial plane and disposed between said radially outermost ends of said movable Wall portions, said adjusting means comprising axially extendable means individually and simultaneuosly acting upon each of said movable wall portions.

12. A ring die pelleting machine according to claim 11 in which the adjusting means comprises a relatively thick walled rigid annular tube engaged on one side with the adjacent adjustable wall of one series, and axially extending pistons reciprocating into and out of fitting openings to the hollow of said tube and having individual adjusting engagement each with one of adjustable Walls of the other series.

13. A ring die pelleting machine according to claim 11 in which the adjusting means comprises extensible and retractable screw means intervened between juxtaposed pairs of adjustable walls together with common means for operating said screw means.

14. A ring die pelleting machine according to claim 11 in which the adjusting means comprises an expansible and collapsible tube. whose opposite sides have a seated engagement each with the adjustable walls of one of superimposed series.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER- REFERENCES Western Livestock Journal, pages 36 and 29, April WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner, 

1. A RING DIE PELLETING MACHINE COMPRISING A RING DIE STRUCTURE AND COACTING ROLLING MEANS RELATIVELY REVOLVABLE ABOUT A COMMON AXIS, SAID RING DIE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART RING FRAME SIDE PLATES, AN ANNULAR SERIES OF SEPARABLE ABUTTING DIE CELL UNITS INTERVENED BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES, EACH OF SAID DIE CELL UNITS BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED AND EMBODYING A SIDE WALL PORTION, A PLURALITY OF END WALL PORTIONS AND A PAIR OF INTERMEDIATE WALL PORTIONS, SAID END WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING CANTILEVER FASHION FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTION AT EACH END OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTION, SAID INTERMEDIATE WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING CANTILEVER FASHION FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTION MIDWAY BETWEEN SAID END WALL PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID CELL UNITS INDIVIDUALLY FORMING LESS THAN A COMPLETE DIE CELL BUT COACTING WITH EACH OTHER WHEN ABUTTED TOGETHER IN SAID ANNULAR SERIES OF UNITS TO DEFINE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SIDE PLATES A PAIR OF ANNULAR SERIES OF RADIALLY EXTENDING DIE CELLS, EACH OF WHICH CELLS HAS ONE SIDE DEFINED BY THE SIDE WALL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID CELL UNITS, THE OTHER SIDE DEFINED BY THE SIDE WALL PORTION OF AN ADJACENT CELL UNIT, ONE END DEFINED BY THE ABUTTING END WALL PORTIONS OF SAID ONE CELL UNIT AND SAID ADJACENT CELL UNIT, AND THE OTHER END DEFINED BY THE ABUTTING INTERMEDIATE WALL PORTIONS OF SAID ONE CELL UNIT AND SAID ADJACENT CELL UNIT. 